Disabled Persons’ Organization of Nuwara Eliya Claimed

For the benefit of persons with disabilities living in the Nuwara Eliya area, the Nuwara Eliya divisional Disable Persons’ Organization called Kelegala Suwatha Suwa Shakthi Organization was established under the registration number NE/4/3/286 of the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariat of Nuwara Eliya district. According to the statistics, the number of registered beneficiaries in this system is 40.

The number of children in the age group 0-16 years who are members of this organization is 10 as the girls are 6 and the boys are 4 each. The number of youths in the age group of 17-35 years is 8 as the female members are 3 and the male members are 5. The total number of senior citizens above 35 years is 22 as the female members are 13 and the male members are 9.

The purpose of this organization is to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, to establish coexistence as citizens, to ensure and implement the rights of persons with disabilities and to use their knowledge, attitude and skills for the common development of themselves and their group.

Among the beneficiaries who are the members of the Nuwara Eliya division, Disabled Persons’ Organization, 01 female member is engaged in the private sector work and 05 and 09 members are self-employed.

Services Provided

●       A brief description of the organization and the services and activities performed DPO Name: Kelegala suwatha Visesa avastha ethi Buthkalayange ha themopiyange suwasakthi samithiya Address: #,77.Boniivista road ,Kelegala Nuwara Eliya Business Name: Suhada Catering Service President name & contact details: Nayani shamila manayagka /0717018840 Email ID: [email protected] Nuwara Eliya is one of the districts located within the Central Province of Sri Lanka and it is located 1868 meters (6128 feet) above sea level, with interior waterways running through the area. The district is divided into 5 Divisional Secretariats. Economically, Nuwara Eliya district depends mostly on tea production as well as vegetable cultivation. Nuwara eliya DPO location is found in the Nuwara eliya District bordering the Kothmale and Nuwara eliya The organization helps children of deprived and marginalized communities (CWD/YwD/CwDs) to improve their living standards and quality of life. With the objective of bringing a positive change to the lives of these children, VAF programs on nutrition and health, education, life skill development of youth, and Disaster Risk Reduction. Currently, VAF is working in 3 District 23 divisions of the programs. Through its development projects, VAF works towards ensuring (CWD/YwD/CwDs). Conflict and disability are closely associated; it is, therefore, significant to examine strategies at the grassroots level for restoring the human rights of people with disabilities living in post-conflict societies. The aim of this study is to reveal the impact of and issues with community-based rehabilitation (CBR) in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, The research was implemented in October 2016, in collaboration with a local NGO in the Nuwara eliya district. A mixed-methods approach was followed, which included quantitative analysis of the NGO’s registration database of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the area group interviews with 5 DS rehabilitation committees Nuwra eliya /Kothmale/Ambaghamuwa/Walapne/Anguranketha of people with disabilities and their family members, and semi-structured interviews with clients of the CBR program. Thematic analysis was applied to the narrative data. Results: The quantitative analysis of clients of the NGO revealed that 60.9% of disabilities. Livelihood assistance was the most common type of self-reported need (44.6%). The qualitative analysis revealed that in communities with inadequate local resources, SHGs that had access to livelihood assistance made a positive impact on the socioeconomic conditions of people with disabilities and their family members. Potential issues were observed, such as the expectation of and dependence on financial aid without self-help. Some people with disabilities would not attend SHGs if there were no financial benefits. As most of the participants had war-related disabilities, it is also possible that the participation of people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities unrelated to them may not have been promoted in some SHGs. Conclusions: The CBR program has had positive impacts on the living conditions of participants, albeit with some potential issues such as financial expectations and aid dependency. The authors argue that the empowerment of people with disabilities and addressing socioeconomic inequality should be considered simultaneously.

But according to VAF, the PWDS and their caregivers of NE still yearn for assistance to overcome challenges such as lack of access to health, education, income generation services, lack of quality and adequate vocational training for Youth with Disabilities (YWD), Weak community level support structures and gaps in policies and systems. The PWDs expect external inputs furthermore to succeed in current difficulties within the next five-year period.